Rail bond



; ,Dec. 25,1928. 7 mew c. G. McCAULLEY RAIL BOND Original Filed Dec. 12,1923 6 147 0 ATI'ORNE S Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,596,316 PATENT OFFICE- CHARLES G. MCCAULLEY, OFJACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.-

RAIL BOND.

Application filed December 12, 1923, Serial No. 680,097. Renewed May 16,1928.

proximate rails and confined between its ends by clips which hold thecable along the top of the splice bar and prevent, to some extent, thevibratory movements which are the usual cause of fracture. Strap bondscut from sheet metal have been proposed but none have proved to bepractical in use. The present invention is concerned with the provisionof a reinforced strapbond Whichshall be of simple and inexpensiveconstruction for manufacture and shall meet the requirements of asatisfactory bond in that it shall be of such form and so mounted as tobe free from fracturing vibration, of low resistance and highconductivity, and mounted entirely clear of the splice bars track bolts,ioint spikes, etc., and accessible at all times for purposes ofinspection or repair while not interfering with the inspection orreplacement of any of the other parts enumerated.

In accordance with the invention it is proposed to form the bond as anarticle of manufacture comprisinga single integral unit adapted to haveits ends joined with adjacent rails and to connect the rail electrical1y while it is held entirely clear of the splice bars. track bolts andjoint spikes, and. iffording free accessibility to such parts formaintenance. The maintenance of bonding in connection wth track circuitsin railway signalling is a substantial item of expense entailingconstantinspection and frequent replacement of defective bonds.Contrarywise, any association of the bonding with the splice bars, trackbolts or joint spikes materially increases, the cost of initialassembling and maintenance of the respective parts because of theirinterdependence. By the improved construction it is proposed that suchinterdependence shall be eliminated and the improved strap bonds mountedin such relation to the rail and to the retaining and sup porting partsthereof as to permit access to such parts without interference. Theimproved bond is mounted in the-preferred construction and reinforcedthroughout the greater part of its length to prevent lateral bending andto concentrate the longitudina movement of the bond due to expansion andcontractlon ofthe reds in compensation,

bends are provided at each end. This con i struction elevates the bondabove the splice bars, track bolts and joint spikes and renders lookingin the direction of the arrows and showing suitable means for fasteningthe improved bond thereto.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed View in,

section through one of the ferrules of the bond showing the means foranchoring it.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in perspective showing the bend and oneferrule.

Figures 5-8 are views showing suitable alternative cross sectional formswhich the bond may be given.

As this description proceeds it will be evident that the improvementsherein do not reside merely in the provision of a bond of widecross-sectional area (specially rolled) I but rather in the formation ofsuch a bond of such means as permit it to be mounted more advantageouslyon adjacent rails. to provide accessibility without interference to thesplice bar, bolts and spikes, and con duct the signalling current withminimum power consumption and losses from one track rail to another. Theimproved bond. consideredas an article of manufacture consists of anextended section at having three bends at each end the first one ofwhich a carries the metal back on itself in the same plane as thesection a, the second of which a carries the metal at right angles fromthe section a but in parallelism therewith and the third one of which acarries the metal back across the plane of the section a and shown. Theconductivity is high and the resistance 10w. Vhile it has been proposedhcrctofore to employ metallicbonds these have not been constructed inthe form described nor have they been employed and mounted as elementswholly independent of associated parts of the rail mounting.Accordingly. they have not served the principal purposes with which theimprovements are concerned. to wit, elimination of vertical viln'ationand resultant fracture. freedom from interference with the applicationor removal of splice bars bolts and track spikes. and mounting in anelevated position with respect to the track bed. As shown in Figure 1the rail sections 1), 0, are unitedby splice bars 6, f, in accordancewith established p "notice which are bolted through by bolts r The railsections are held on the ties It by track spikes i. As an importantfactor in track maintenance it is desirable that the splice bars, boltsand track spikes, be accessible for inspection or replacementwithoutinterference by the bond and contrarynvise that the bond be mountedwholly independently of all of such units. These results are attained bymounting the improved bond with its section a in intimate contact withthe outer sides of the head of the rails b, c, and wholly above thesplice bars (2. f, bolts y, and trackspikcs i. This relationship issecured by introducing the ferrules at at the ends of the bond throughholes provided therefor in the web sections of the rails 7), 0, atpoints beyond the ends of the splice bars a, f, and at a substantialdistance above the track spikes 2" The upwardly extending bends a holdthe section a of the bond in its elevated position and the bends a notonly permit expansion and contraction without. injury or displacement ofthe bond but impress a spring action thereon to hold the section ayieldingly in intimate contact with the faces of the rails. v Theinvention is not to be limited to the particular means employed forsecuring the bond to the rails but those illustrated have been foundsimple and effective in practice. The ferrules an terminate in flangeswhich may be upset as indicated in Figure 3 after the ferrulesareintroduced through the respective openings in the rail webs, andtapered pins in may. then be driven into the open ends of thesplitferrules sons to expand them into intimate engagement with the walloi the openin". The anchorage is at once secure and efi'ective andinsures an eliicient electrical union between the rails and the bondover a large superficial area so as to introduce a factor of minimumresistance at these.

points. The large cross sectional area of the bond throughout the restof its length insures maximum conductivity. Since the section a. whichis the body portion of the bond, is vertically disposed and is pres edyieldingly against the faces of the rails it is not subject to verticalvibrations and resultant fracture. The bends in the bond onable it toconform yicldingly to any relative movements between the rail sectionsin lateral and horizontal planes. The elevated position of the bondprotects it from the injurious influences of brine and water drip pingsfrom cars and splashings from the rail bed.

In Figures 545 alternative cross sectional forms of the strip 0 areindicated which give. in fact, greater cross sectional area and correspondingly less resistance. The forms shown in Figures 5 and (S for agiven cross sectional area enable the width of the strap to be less sothat the clearance between it and the splice bar may be actuallygreater. This may be desirable under some conditions of use.

As indicated hereinbefore. the invention is not to be limited to theparticular form of the bends employed nor to the means for mounting thestrap bond on the rails since one skilled in the art may depart from theteaching of the drawings without avoiding the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:--

1. In combination with two rails and splice bars and bolts to connecttheir ends. a stiff strap bond of metal having an elongated section inengagement with the outer faces of the rails and clearing the tops ofthe splice bar and terminating at its ends in bends extending downwardlyand inwardly, means formed at the ends for engagement with therespective rails to support the elongated sec tion above the splice bar,said bends serving to press the elongated section yicldingly against theface of the rails.

2. In combination with two rails and splice bars and bolts to connecttheir ends. a still? unitary rail bond of rolled metal having: anelongated section formed in cross section of greater height than width.said elongated section clearing; the top of the splice bar and being inyielding engagement with the outer faces of the heads of the rails andterminating at its ends in bends extending: downwardly and inwardly, andmeans formed at CHARLES G. MOGAULLEY.

